Came back to the motel as rain was threatening and I didn't have the car.

It was a good day for tennis. Mertov is here and we met up at the Dimitrov- Almagro match. That was an interesting one. Although Dimitrov won 7-6, 6-4, It was an up and down sort of match largely determined by whether Dimitrov's serve was on fire or not. Mertov thought that Almagro was making tactical mistakes. We waited to see Sloane Stevens beat Petra Martic 6-2,3-6,6-3. That was also an up-down match and it looked for a while as if qualifier Martic might win it.

From his coaching background, Mertov knows where the good ladies matches are and we went off to see the ladies doubles Hatuchova - Hingis vs Medina Garrigues - Penetta. The former pair won 4-6,6-4,10-5.I had not seen Hingis in action before. She still packs quite a punch.

Before the evening session I went to the advertised "conversation" between Brad Gilbert and Tommy Haas in the Corona Beach House. Mostly Brad, not much Tommy but Tommy attributes his new success to having a family. He wants to stay around long enough for his daughter to see him win something big. Tennis is on the TV in their house all the time and daughter , just a few years old, can already distinguish Roger, Rafa, and Dada. Brad says that the qualifications for being a good commentator are (1) to have opinions, (2) to make predictions. Brad certainly can do both! Asked who was his favorite pupil he came out strongly with Andre Agassi. Clearly there are still a lot of affectionate memories from that partnership. Brad thinks Ryan Harrison may be the big surprise of the tournament after his spectacular win last night but he has to get by David Ferrer tomorrow first!

The big disappointment for the day was the David Goffin - Mackenzie MacDonald match. The latter, about 18 year old, came through the qualifiers and there are great expectations from Brad Gilbert and others. But Goffin ran completely over him tonight with something like 6-1, 6-2. That was not good.

Then we went off to see two classy ladies Eugenia Bouchard and Monica Puig battle it out. It was some of the best tennis of the day. The former won. (don't have the score).

Mertov and I are going to meet tomorrow for the Kevin Anderson - Tommy Haas match at 11 am. That should be a corker.

A postscript to yesterday. Brad Gilbert mentioned that he was at present doing some general coaching for the USTA people. That would explain why I saw him in Washington for the Jack Sock match in one of the small stands there.

I like Blake's game & am pleased to note he played well. Good for him to get past Janowicz who was certainly my pick to win this encounter.

I'm hoping to be able to watch at least the Haas match today. If I can, I'd like to also watch Gulbis / Youzhny, Dimitrov / Baker, Pospisil / Simon. Much as I'd like to see Federer / Kohlshreiber, it will be on too late for me.

Haas takes 1st set 6-4One break was more than enough to win him this set, great serving at 80+% of 1st service won.-----------------------

Anderson started much better 2nd set, leads 1-0*First time that Tommy lost more than 2pts in his service game but holds with 2 big serves 1-1And Tommy breaks! Terrible smash by Anderson at 15-40, *2-1.Wonderful drops by Tommy in this match, both won their service games easily, Tommy still with a break *3-2Haas is too good on his service that it's highly unlike to lose this, both hold, now *4-3Anderson serving to stay in the match 5-3*Anderson holds and now Tommy will serve for the match *5-4!-------------------------------------------Tommy def. Anderson 6-4 6-4 in rather pretty routine win.

Lugburz, I agree that Anderson had little to bother Haas with. Still, I enjoyed seeing him play well again - his shoulder looks fine. Wishing him a great tournament here.And although Lopez had more of a contest with Nishikori, having to play a tb, he won it relatively straightforwardly in the end, also in straight sets. I'm going to watch as much of the Gulbis / Youzhny as I can.

I saw most of the JJ v. Blake match, and though I enjoy faster play and shorter points in general, there was some rather medicore tennis mixed in with the brilliant shot-making. That's the price of risky tennis. Nice to see Blake keep his head late in the 2nd set and close it out. JJ's drop shot continues to amaze me! Nice touch from the big guy.

I saw most of the JJ v. Blake match, and though I enjoy faster play and shorter points in general, there was some rather medicore tennis mixed in with the brilliant shot-making. That's the price of risky tennis. Nice to see Blake keep his head late in the 2nd set and close it out. JJ's drop shot continues to amaze me! Nice touch from the big guy.

I say it's better to see brilliant shotmaking tennis with few mediocre tennis with errors, than mediocre tennis with only few brilliant shotmaking.

You can't have it both ways I'm afraid. Playing fast tennis and risky shots will get you some errors and if there aren't any, well it's instantly a contest for one of the best matches ever.I will get back to Haas-Dimitrov match. Those 1st 5 games were one of the best matches ever. It was almost impossible to top or even stay on that level for the rest of the match.

Well so far all my favorites are winning. I just hope my #1 favorite win tonight. I'm watching the Isner match on television, but I can get the other matches on my IPhone or computer. If this Isner match continues to be 'routine', I might just switch. You know tennis channel will stay with the Americans.

Finally caught some Blake/Jerzy highlights. Great shots from James. Awesome to see him playing that well again. Bummer that Nishikori lost, but eh. I'm more concerned with Baker and Nadal. And I guess Isner, though with him, I feel like I'm just going through permanent disappointment. Hope Harrison can pull the massive upset!